William Branham: Shape Shifter

In 1964, William Branham started preaching sermons of self-promotion with titles like “The Unveiling of God,” and “The Mighty God Unveiled Before Us.”

To the programmed cult follower, these sermons are significant to their belief in the cult of William Branham, because the sermons are to signify the presence of Jesus Christ at work in the Branham’s ministry.

The premise of the sermon “The Unveiling of God” is this:According to Branham, God “hid” or “veiled” himself from the people in the Old Testament.

On the surface, this sermon sounds scriptural.Branham uses examples in the Bible to support each topic as he traverses through time, from the days of Moses through the days of Jesus Christ to the days of Branham, the new “veil” of God.To make the point he tries to shove down their throats, however, he must twist each story to fit his agenda.

The largest twisting is the idea of God being “veiled” to “hide himself” from the people.This teaching, though very wrong, is the very teaching that allowed Branham to get away with pausing the recording for his sermons and for allowing the homosexual Gene and Leo to “edit out” large portions of recorded “message”.Typical cult theology is, “Don’t let those OTHER Christians know about this, it was not FOR them!Cast not your pearls before swine!”

Paul actually denounced this cult mentality in 2 Corinthians 4.We are to be “Lights of the Gospel” to all the world, shining through darkness, bringing in every soul that has a willing heart to be saved.And they will only refuse it IF they are not called to Christ!Paul did not hide it because he wanted to keep the Gospel bottled up as a “secret!”

2 Corinthians 4 says:

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Paul pointed to Christ.He said that he did NOT proclaim HIMSELF, but Jesus Christ as Lord.Paul was just a servant.

But in Branham’s sermon, it was just the opposite.The “Messenger” or “Prophet” was promoted, not Christ.The “veil” was the prophet, and if you peeked behind that veil, you would see God.

So it was God formed in a man called a prophet. See? And the Word of the Lord came to this man, so it wasn't the prophet; the prophet was the veil, but the Word was God. The man's word won't act like that. See what I mean? It cannot act in that manner. But potentially it was God. See, He was the Word of God in the form of a man, called "a man."

To the programmed cult follower, this statement may not start sounding warning bells, and the twisted scriptures can support promoting worship of a man.But if you combine this with the rest of the sermon, even cult followers should start hearing God ringing a huge gong of warning!

Through example, Branham promoted himself continually as God.Each example, from Moses to Christ, was spoken in such a way that you could easily replace “William Branham” in the example.Why?Because he had somehow managed to convince his followers that he indeed had prophecy, and because of that, he was the “great and mighty” prophet.In fact, he promoted himself as God.He claimed, by example, that God changed his form into the form of William Branham so that the people could see God.

Notice, He never changed His nature, only His form. Hebrews 13:8, said, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever." So He did not change His nature when He come. He is always that Prophet, all down through the age, same thing: the Word, the Word, the Word, the Word. See? He cannot change His nature, but He changed His form. Hebrews 13:8, said, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forever." He just changed His mask.

And Branham knew that there would be others in Christian churches with the gift of prophecy.The spiritual gifts, according to Paul, are for anyone to receive, all they need do is accept Jesus Christ by grace through faith.

But he could not let others steal his glory.If God were speaking to others, then God would have the glory.But if God were shape-shifting into the form of William Branham, then Branham became the almighty.That is the very reason that anyone with the gift of prophecy in the Branham cult churches will be suppressed.

His Word is revealed to one. It's always been, a prophet came with the Word of the Lord, each age, every time, down through the Scripture. The Word comes to one. In every age, the same, even in the church ages, from the very first to the last. Others have their places, that's right, notice, but stay away from that Pillar of Fire. See? What a lesson we learn here! See, everybody wanting to be a Moses, and everybody...

Branham got a lot of mileage from the picture of the florescent light bulb in the Houston Colliseum, the one that he paid George Lacy to authenticate so he could have it copyrighted for profit.He calls that florescent light bulb the “pillar of fire,” which is to set himself above the rest.He is the “ultimate prophet.”He is the “prophet God,” the one that was not a man, but God shape-shifting into the form of a man.

Religious cults whose founder claimed prophecy do not regard prophets the same as other human beings, though the Bible clearly teaches otherwise.They are human beings, nothing more, but God chose to speak to them.

Their only argument is that God DID come down in the form of a man, the Man Jesus Christ.But that is NOT the same!Christ was the Son of God!Branham was NOT the Son of God!

And these prophets are not omni-present.They can only be in one city at one time.In the days of the Old Testament prophets, God did not forfeit one city of His children just so that he could shape-shift into the form of a prophet.There were definitely prophets in multiple cities, recorded to have prophesied at the same time during the same “age.”

Branham threw a few rabbit-holes in the way of the ones who wanted to search the Scriptures by saying there was only one “major” prophet on the scene at a time.But think about what that one single word, “major” implies!

If you call a prophet a “major” prophet, you elevate the man instead of the God who spoke through or to him.To call a prophet major, you must first lift up the man, and you must lesson God.

Without that false teaching, Branham could have never pulled of this sermon in front of a group of Christians with Bibles.Most Christians, if told that God had “shape-shifted” into the form of William Branham, would laugh and think you must be joking.Sadly, most slaves in bondage to the Message of William Branham are not joking, and sincerely believe that this man was God in the form of a man.Fred Sothmann, one of Branham’s henchmen, is quoted saying that “William Branham was GREATER than Jesus Christ” in a video that has made its way through the world via YouTUBE.

Towards the end of the sermon, Branham wanted to make sure the people were picking up what he was laying down.If there was any question as to whether or not God had “veiled” himself in William Branham, he wanted them to answer it for themselves (with the help of his guidance.)

Oh, brother, sister, are you catching It? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Look! Don't you see? It's been veiled through these ages, according to what God said, and It will be opened in the last days, those Seven Seals would be broke, and the full Thing would come into view of the people, what's took place all along. The hour of the seventh angel's Message, all the mysteries of God should be made known in that Elijah, this last hour; how that Christ is put out of His church, the Son of God; how He is revealed as Son of man again; how that the Church is to be put in order, and everything for the last day, no creed, no denomination, just absolutely the Word living in the individual. "I'll take one, and leave one. I'll take this, and leave that one." See? There's just... There's no strings, no denominations, no bindings or nothing; it's the heart with God, and Him alone. See?

If you study the scriptures, you will find that this entire sermon is nothing more than twisted cult theology, and it matches the same theology as other religious cults that proclaim to be “Christian.”The reason other Christians can’t see that their cult leader is the “almighty” is because God has “hidden” or “veiled” himself to them.And the “mighty Oz behind the curtain” can’t have his curtain removed!

There were veils, both physical and spiritual described in the Bible.But they were not to hide the glowing candles of the “little chosen ones” from the other people of the world.Quite the opposite; God was very open with the spreading of both the power of Yahweh in the Old Testament and the Grace of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

Moses was behind a veil, but only so the people would not worship him.His body was also glowing, and his body had to be hidden from the people so that it was not made an idol.

The temple did have a veil to keep the Ark of the Covenant sacred and beyond view of temple worship.But God did not want the Ark to receive the worship; HE wanted the honor and glory.

A veil was placed over the eyes of the children of Israel so that they would not recognize the Christ Child, that is exactly what the prophets of the Old Testament described in their visions.But when Jesus came, he did not call a little group of “chosen ones” in a corner and say “It isn’t for them, I’ve hidden myself behind a veil.”Jesus said to go to ALL the world and preach to ALL the nations!Leave no stone unturned!

The biggest problem of all is that this entire sermon is in direct conflict with 2 Corinthians 3.We are not to be led astray -- or even led -- by some guy who claims that he is “God who shape-shifted.”We are ALL to be ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Not one, many!

It is ironic, because Paul starts off the chapter by condemning William Branham and those like him:

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?

Paul did not commend himself like William Branham did.Paul did not try to trick the people into thinking that God “shape shifted” into his form, and he was God before them.In fact, Paul preached against it, because that was what the sorcerers did, and sorcerers were associated with worship of Baal.

Also, Paul did not lift up any single man or woman.All were to be servants for Christ, all delivering the same Gospel:

You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.

Also, listen to Paul’s type of message:

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit.

Paul never went around saying, “see I had the experience.I saw the light in the wilderness.I copyrighted photos of that light, so I could build a big following for ME.I said that those men with me worked for the “Federal Bureau of Ceaser’s Investigation,” when they were really just simple farmers and fishermen.

He is very implicit in his ministry.Nothing to do with this life, not of the flesh, not of the experience, not of any single thing that this earth can provide is of value.There is no need to boast of “spiritual experiences” like Buddha or Gandhi do, lights and blasts and angels and more -- we should instead boast of the Holy Spirit.

He says:

For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Also, of most importance, is Paul’s “message.”In fact, Paul would likely become very angry against men who called it “Paul’s Message,” because this had nothing to do with Paul.Paul was not a “Messenger for an Age,” Paul was a prisoner for Christ.A servant.The least among them!

Paul’s message was that the Old Covenant was a “covenant of death.”It came as glory from God, but brought death and condemnation.Yet it was glorified.He also calls that ministry, the ministry of the Old Covenant the “ministry of condemnation!”

Branham claimed to have “preached the same ‘message’ Paul preached, and claimed to have had a spiritual vision describing many souls who were “resting on that,” but Branham brought a “Message” that each Covenant became greater and greater with power as a new covenant was added.He skipped the part where Jesus fulfilled the covenant, completing our part of the contract for us!

Paul’s “message” was greater than Branham’s, greater than the “ministry of death”:

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.

To those who have been falsely taught under the twisted scriptures of William Branham, and have been programmed with a different Jesus, listen to what comes next.If you think Branham was correct, and the Old Covenant was still in effect, If you think Branham’s “message” was the same one Paul taught, and that he wasn’t lying about the vision he claimed to have had with the “souls on the other side,” compare Branham’s “message” with Paul’s preaching of the Gospel:

For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.But their minds were hardened.

In all honesty, there is a portion of Branham’s message, “The Unveiling of God,” that is correct.There is a spiritual veil, a spiritual blindness that has came over the people.But not to everyone outside of the cult he set out to establish or the cult leaders he promoted like Charles Taze Russell and John Alexander Dowie.

Paul says that the people who are still trying to uplift the Old Covenant are spiritually blinded with the spiritual veil that remains unlifted:

For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

I have heard that exact testimony time and time again from those who are fleeing from this cult of idolatry they once called “The Message.”As soon as they turned their hearts and minds over to Christ, that veil was lifted away.They immediately saw the change in their lives, and started to experience a closer walk with Christ.

Oh...And to those who believe Branham’s nonsense about how a Christian has to forfeit his rights and become the lamb waiting for the slaughter.Have you ever asked yourselves if that theology came from God or if it came from Satan.Ask yourselves, WHO was the Lamb that paid our debt, and then read what Paul says next:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

To the ministers in this cult of William Branham’s ministry of death:Why are you teaching that God shape-shifted into the form of William Branham?Why have you left the teachings of Paul to uplift a man?Do you really think that God does not see what you have done?Do you think that God does not see the many souls you have put under imprisonment?Do you think that God does not see the spiritual veil you have put over their faces?

When you are asked on the judgment day whether you pointed souls to Christ or souls to William Branham’s “Message of death,” how will you respond?